wean off
To slowly stop using or needing something, a little bit at a time.
Meanings
To gradually stop a baby or young animal from depending on breast milk.
"The vet advised them to slowly wean the kittens off their mother's milk."
To gradually reduce someone's dependence on a substance, habit, or way of thinking.
"Her doctor helped her wean herself off sleeping pills over several months."
To gradually withdraw a country, industry, or system from its dependence on something.
"The government pledged to wean the economy off fossil fuels within a decade."
Originally referred to stopping breastfeeding by gradually reducing feeds. Now widely used figuratively for breaking any kind of dependency — on drugs, sugar, technology, habits, etc. Common in both British and American English. Often used reflexively (wean yourself off).
Commonly used with
Forms
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